The fallout from the coronavirus pandemic has caused many to be laid off or furloughed from jobs, and retirement savings to be decimated.
Over the last two weeks, unemployment claims have skyrocketed past previous levels. In fact, a recent SimplyWise survey found that 40% of Americans’ income has been impacted by the virus.
Now, forced into a life of quarantine and cabin fever, it is easy to feel like job prospects, at least for the next few months, are hopeless. This, coupled with the market swings that have taken a toll on savings and investment accounts have left many feeling like they can’t pay the bills.
For many boomers right now, this means rethinking retirement: either claiming Social Security benefits earlier than they expected to, or delaying retirement altogether to allow savings to recover. Of course, claiming benefits before your Full Retirement Age could result in a lower monthly benefit for life. And on the other hand, every month you delay claiming benefits increases your benefits for life. So it’s important to think through your decisions right now to make sure you take the right course for your own retirement plans.
Yet even now, there are real ways to make money from home, starting today. A number of platforms today offer online jobs hiring right now, including temporary, remote work.
From taking surveys to transcribing or user-testing, these opportunities can offer good ways for seniors to fill in the current income gaps – all without claiming your Social Security early. Below, we highlight five legitimate work from home jobs hiring now that you can easily get started with today.
How to make money during a crisis
1. Website tester jobs for online companies
Website tester jobs entail giving your opinion about a company or individual’s site. You may be asked to give feedback about the design, quality, or ease-of-use of a site. One of our favorite platforms, used by many SimplyWise users, is UserTesting.com, which gives you $10 cash for every 20 minute test that you complete. All you need is access to a computer and the internet.
2. Survey taking
Another easy way to make money during a crisis is to take surveys. Companies – even now – rely on consumer feedback. Many companies that don’t have a formal department to run focus groups or panels hire survey companies to help support them in gathering valuable customer insights. SurveyMonkey is a good place to start, as they make it simple to sign up using their app (you can sign up here). You can earn Amazon gift cards for just a couple of minutes of answering questions. As far as online jobs hiring right now that require no experience, surveys can be one of the easiest ways to make a few extra bucks today.
3. Audio transcription jobs
Another work from home job hiring right now can be found in companies that specialize in transcription or translation. If you’re looking for a flexible job that requires no prior experience beyond typing quickly and having a computer, this could be a good option for you. It entails listening to audio and transcribing the words to text. We would recommend starting with Rev, where it’s easy to become certified. You simply take a quiz and submit a transcript to demonstrate your mastery of the English language. The average transcriptionists on their site earn $245/month.
4. Setting up an Etsy Shop
Do you have old clothes or jewelry that are collecting dust in a closet? Or are you a master craftswoman or craftsman that produces beautiful objects everyone says you should be selling? Well coronavirus quarantine makes for a perfect time to open up your first online store and start selling your wares. With platforms like eBay or Etsy, it has never been easier to set up your own online shop and get your designs or vintage items up for sale. For those who have crafts to make and sell, we particularly love Etsy. On their platform, it’s free to start a shop, and much cheaper than setting up your own website with a shopping cart. They also provide great support to their sellers. To learn more, check out their site here.
5. Remote work jobs boards
There are many online job boards out there which you can sort through to see which positions have been most recently posted. Many companies who are providing essential services right now (from grocers, to banking to healthcare) are looking for workers to help support their daily operations. While a good amount of the available positions requires leaving the house, there are also a number of positions available for people who are quarantined inside. Sites like RemoteWoman and InvertPro are great, free resources to find vetted opportunities, from marketing to customer support and beyond.
The Bottom Line
The crisis sparked by COVID-19 has been incredibly challenging for so many. It’s crippling the global economy, our health and our wallets. Particularly for those who have been laid off or furloughed, it easy to feel like there are no jobs hiring right now. But there are indeed legitimate work from home jobs today. Money making apps and platforms can help to put extra cash in your pocket while it’s feeling hard to pay the bills.
As you think about ways to make money right now, it may indeed be necessary for your personal financial situation to claim Social Security early. But if you are in a position to avoid collecting your retirement, spousal or survivor benefits early, it’s worth considering the options available to make extra income today. This includes the numerous online jobs hiring right now. New sites and tools are making it easier than ever to set up shop and make money from home – even during a crisis.